Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel stated on Thursday that women should aim to become skilled mothers before pursuing roles as IAS officers or educators. She highlighted that career achievements must not overshadow family duties.
At the 41st convocation of a Kanpur university, the 84-year-old governor encouraged young women to pursue studies and jobs after marriage while supporting their households and communities.
Addressing students, parents and staff, Patel, who serves as chancellor of state universities, focused on family principles, parental duties and ethical development. She noted that learning goes beyond classroom success.
She remarked that whether becoming an IAS officer or teacher, one should first master motherhood. Everyone ought to learn basic home cooking. Daughters must not halt education post-marriage and should apply their abilities toward national progress.
Patel called on parents to stay engaged with their children’s activities even after they start college or school. Minor oversight lapses could harm their prospects.
She raised alarms about drug issues near campus hostels. A Raj Bhavan team found narcotics allegedly delivered via food services, though the operation was later stopped.
Patel connected rising domestic abuse and crimes against women to weakening ethics. Education cannot be judged only by qualifications or scores. Growing degrees amid ongoing offenses show education’s shortcomings. Ethics matter equally to academics.
The event awarded degrees to 107,713 students, with women earning about 82 percent of medals. Priya Yadav, a BSc Agriculture topper, received the Chancellor’s Gold Medal plus four others.
These comments follow recent addresses on women, family and values. Earlier at a Lucknow mother-daughter event, Patel urged focus on female health topics including nutrition and maternal care. She asked universities to offer health screenings and courses on prenatal practices.
The day before, at another Lucknow convocation, she advised financial independence before marriage while clarifying support for informed personal choices and better teaching in state engineering colleges.
At the Kanpur event, Patel repeated her call to balance academics with family and ethics as digital certificates were introduced for graduates.
